A Tribute to Richard and Helen DeVos
In Memoriam
Helen DeVos 1927-2017
Richard M. DeVos 1926-2018
Rich and Helen DeVos forever changed West Michigan and Grand Valley State University through their generous philanthropy and vision. Their support for the university was unwavering since their initial involvement in 1970s.
Rich and Helen’s dedication to Grand Valley grew over the decades. In the 1970s, Rich served on what was then called the Board of Control for Grand Valley, providing critical leadership and personal resources. He joined the Grand Valley University Foundation Board in 1982 and became its third president. Rich served as president for 25 years becoming chairman emeritus in 2016. Helen also served on the foundation’s advisory cabinet.
In the 1980s, Rich and Helen were extremely active in helping to secure land and funding for the Grand Design 2000 campaign, an effort that expanded Grand Valley’s downtown Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus and the L.V. Eberhard Center. The university recognized their support and leadership with the naming of the Richard M. DeVos Center.
In 2000, Rich and Helen garnered the support of their friends and community and raised the funds necessary to construct Grand Valley’s Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences in downtown Grand Rapids. Their hard work and vision helped to secure the city as a medical hub for the region and the entire State of Michigan.
They both served as honorary co-chairs of the Shaping Our Future campaign, which expanded scholarships for students, improved and expanded Grand Valley’s facilities, strengthened key programs, and provided much-needed support to faculty. Rich and Helen also made the lead gift to help build the L. William Seidman Center as an extension of the Pew Grand Rapids Campus.
Rich and Helen shared the vision for the university’s Health Campus expansion and were instrumental in the Laker Effect campaign. This included generous support for the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health, on Michigan Street in Grand Rapids, and active engagement by Rich in raising support for the project during 2018.
Rich and Helen’s leadership and vision for Grand Valley, including the building of the downtown campus, will benefit students and our community for generations to come. They will be remembered as the university’s most steadfast supporters and loyal friends.